The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-11
Our OF Town ON IMPORTANT
BUSINESS.
WILL RETURN IN A MONTH.

And I smiled with satisfaction as
pictured to myself how my creditors
would glare upon that notice.
The next day found me at Camp Sier-
IA, grasping Halls hand and responding
to his enthusiastic greeting. Hal Ed
monds was an old college chum of mine,
who imagined that he had consumption,
or at least he had persuaded his loving
parents into that belief in order that he
might return to California with me when
I left our law college for my homeward
trip. And here he was before me, look
ing the picture of health, as active and
as strong as mountain wildcat.
"You are healthy looking one-lunged
consumptive," I sarcastically remarked.
''Thanks," replied Hal, affably. "You
see," sinking his voice to an almost in
audible whisper, 'this lung is badly af-
fected, but this lung" raising his voice
80 that it sounded like "a foghorn, lis all
right" And he laughed merrily. "Say,
Harry, I am like that sickly Chinaman
that did my washing in Los Angeles.
His sign read 'Wan Lung"
"Oh, rats" I interrupted. 81 didn't
come up here to be killed with sickly
puns."
"Well, never mind. Come, I'll show
you my retreat and introduce you to my
ehum."
And proudly Hal showed me all the
surroundings of his log cabin homo, as
we'll as the trophies Of the many hunts
he had taken. And finally, as his COM
panion entered, introduced me to him.
"Monte Sam, Mr.. Davis, my chum,
Mr.. Davis, Monte SAM" And the in
PRODUCTION was complete.
Before me stood a grizzled, gray
haired specimen of humanity, clad in a
red shirt, overalls, cowh:de boots and a
wide broad-brimmed sombrero. My
heart warmed to him at once, for be.
beld before me one of those hardy old
California pioneers. I extended my
hand to receive pressure in return that
made me vince. I endcavored to en-
gage Sam in conversation, but it was 4
one-sided affair. Muttering something
about ''teudin to the dogs" he abruptly
left us together.
"Queer fellow. that" said Hal as Sam
left us. 81 had quite time scraping an
acquaintance with him. I met him in
Pasadena, where he was trying to buy
some whisky without success. Some
time after that met him again and this
time he told me where he lived. He
said nc was hunter and miner, that he
had a little placer claim up the
mountains and that the hunting was
always good. By much persistence I
managed to get an invitation to visit
him, which I accepted with alacrity.
And many's the good time he's given me.
Sam has lived here for years and years.
He built this cabin himself, which he
Gays is counterpart of one he had in
Eldorado county. when Jim Marshall. as
he calls him, first discovered gold in the
historic year 40. You'll like him when
you know him better"
As long as live believe I shall ever
remember the glorious days that followed
my introduction into Camp Sierra. With
Monte Sam and his dogs to guide us, we
hunted the deer, chasing them over
mountains and ravines, through brush
and boulderS, often being rewarded, after
an exciting chase, with a deer or doe,
whose skins and horns were q source of
pride to both Hal and me-
One night after We had retired from n
long tramp we'll laden with the spoils of
the chase, and were resting after supper,
lying full length before u blazing fire, |
related to sympathetic Hal all my
struggles and trials since we had last
parted, mentioning at last my first and
only case. "You see, Hail." l explained,
"this Don Jose Maria Antonio Jesus
Ybarra, away back in the early days, re-
ceived grant from the Government of
California of three leagues of land adjoin-
ing and running due east from what is
now the heart of the city of Los Angeles.
His cattle and sheep and horses roamed
what were then grassy plans in almost
cou:tiess numbers. He was lordly